Melodeoh



UNTTED sTATEs PATENT OEETOE.

HORATIO N. GOODMAN, .OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

MELODEON.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 9,816, dated June 28, 1853.

To aZZ whom t may concern Be it known that I, I-IoIzATio N. GOODMAN, ofthe cit-y and county of New Haven, in the State of Connecticut, have-invented a new and useful Improvement in Melodeons; and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ofthe construction, character, and operat-ion of the same, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, which make a part of thisspecification, in which- Figure 1, is a perspective View of one octaveof a melodeon, showing the two sets of keys, and the end of the coupler,or apparatus for connecting the back set of valves with the lower set ofkeys. Fig. 2, is a perspective view of a cross section of the melodeon,(or, a section cut in the direction of the length of the keys,) showingthe two sets of valves, the pitmen which work them, and the coupler, orapparatus which connects the back set of valves with the lower set ofkeys, and also the positions of both sets of reeds. Fig. 3, is a planview of the coupler, or apparatus by means of which the parts may be soconnected that both set of valves may be worked by the lower set ofkeys, alone, while the upper set of keys can only operate the back setof valves at any time.

My improvement consists in constructing the melodeon with two sets ofreeds, and two sets of valves, in such a manner as to be played by twosets of keys, (arranged one above the otl er, in the usual way,) and sothat both sets of reeds may be played by the lower set of keys, whilethe back set of reeds only, (in unison or above or below,) may be playedby the upper set of keys, without, at all effecting the front set ofreeds ,-(or the lower set of keys may be played by both hands producingthe eect of using two stops in other instruments;)-thus giving greaterforce, compass, and variety, to the melodeon.

I make the melodeon in the usual way, with two sets of reeds, asrepresented at a and ZJ, Fig. 2, and two sets of keys, or twokey-boards, as represented at A, and B, Fig. 1. For each set of reeds Imake a separate set of valves, as represented, in section, at 0, c, andcZ, CZ. Fig. 2. (The valves c, and

eZ, being represented as open, and c, and d', as shut.) These valves Imake of wood, or any other suitable material, and face them withleather, in the usual way; (or in any other way;) and I close thesevalves by springs pressing up against them, in the usual way, asrepresented, at e and f, Fig. 2.

The valves C, 0, &c., are forced open by the action of the upper set ofkeys, (A, Fig. 1,) bearing on the upper ends of the pitmen g, g, &c.,the lower ends of which rest on the back set of valves, as representedin section at c, Fig. 2, so that the back set ot reeds, (represented insection at a, Fig. 2,) will be played alone by the upper set of keys,(A, Fig. 1,) while the other set remain silent.

The valves (Z, cZ, &c., are forced open by the action of the lower setof keys, (B, Fig. 1,) bearing on the upper ends of the pitmen ZL, ZL,81e., the lower ends of which rest on the front set of valves, asrepresented in section at cZ, Fig. 2, so that the front set of reeds,(represented in section at b, Fig. 2,) may be played alone, by the lowerset of keys, (B, Fig. 1,) while the back set remain silent; or, bothsets of reeds may be played at the same time, in unison, or otherwise,by playing the lower set of keys with one hand, and the upper set withthe other hand ,-or, two performers may each use one key board, ifdesired.

I make the keys of the lower set, (B, Fig. 1), twice the length of thoseof the upper set, (A, Fig. 1,) so that the lower keys eX- tend backunder the upper keys throughout their whole length, as shown in section,in B, Fig. 2, which is one of the lower set of keys cut through itslongitudinal center, and shows how the pitmen g, g, &c., pass throughthe long keys, the space shown at z', Fig. 2.

To connect the two sets so that the reeds, as shown at a, and b, Fig. 2,may both be sounded by the action of the lower set of keys, I lit inpieces of the form of, and which are operated like, the valves, as shownat j, y', &c., Fig. 2, which bear on the upper ends of the pitmen (oneof which is shown at 7c, Fig. 2) while the lower ends of these pitmenrest on the valves o, c, &c., as represented, in section in Fig. 2.

To work the pieces j, j, &c., I inserta coupler, or connect-ingapparatus, shown in plan in Fig. 3, and in section, at C, Fig. 2, andone end at C, Fig. 1, in which the pitmen Z, Z, &c., have a free motionup and down. This coupler (C,) is suspended in the frame work of themelodeon by the parts D, and E, which serve as journals, resting inbearings, as indicated at C, Fig. l, the other bearing being concealed.When the coupler (0,) is turned into the position shown in section inFig. 2, the lower ends of the pitmen Z, Z, &c., will rest obliquely onthe pieces j, j, &c., as seen in Fig. 2, which will allow them to fallso low that the lower set of keys (B, Fig. 1,) will not press upon theupper ends of them, and therefore the pieces j, j, &c., will not bepressed down, but when the coupler (0,) is turned so as to hangvertically from its journals, the lower ends of the pitmen, Z, Z, &c.will rest on the pieces j, y', &c. in the position indicated by dottedlines at m, Fig. 2, so that when the keys (13,) of the lower set arepressed down to the position shown in section in Fig. 2, the pitmen Z,Z, &c. will be forced down, and by them the pieces j, j, &c. whichpieces will force down the pitmen 7c, &c., and open the valves c, c, &c.as seen in Fig. 2, by which means the lower set of keys, (B,) will serveto play both sets of reeds. rIhus when the coupler, C, is in itsvertical position, one hand may play both stops, or sets of reeds withthe lower setof keys, (13,) while the other hand plays only the back setof reeds with the upper set of keys, (A,) and the hands may-be changedat pleasure to give force and variet-y to the several parts as desired.The coupler, C, may be operated in the same manner as stops n organs, orotherwise, as may be found most convenient. And any kind of bellows maybe used, which may be considered most suitable in any case. The wind maypass to the reeds from the front and rear, as indicated by the darts inFig. 2, or any other suitable way.

To steady, and guide the valves I use pins, as seen at nfor the piecesj, y', &c. as seen at 0,-and, for the keys, as seen at F, F, Fig. 2, inthe usual way.

The advantages of my improvement consist in using two sets of keys withtwo sets of reeds, and two sets of valves, in such a manner that eachset of reeds may be sounded, or played, by its own set of keys,

independently of the other set g-or, both sets of reeds may be sounded,or played, by using the lower set of keys only; (by the aid of thecoupler,)or both sets of reeds being sounded by the lower set of keys,and at the same time another part, (or parts,) may be played on the backset of reeds only, by using the upper set of keys z-thus giving muchgreater force, compass, and variety to the melodeon than it hasheretofore possessed, while from the simplicity of the connections ofthe parts, (by the use of the coupler,) the price is but slightlyincreased, in proportion to its value.

I am aware that two sets of keys have long been used in organs ;-andthat two sets of reeds have been used in reedinst1aunents;- I thereforedo not claim either of these, as such, as my invention; but

Vhat I claim as my inevntion, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. rIhe combination of the two sets of reeds with the two sets of keys,when these are combined with the two sets of valves, and so arrangedthat each set of keys may play their own set of reeds independently or,so that the lower set of keys may play both sets of reeds, (in theordinary way of two stops,) while the upper set of keys may play its ownset of reeds, only, in any other part of the key-board, at the pleasureof the performer, when constructed, and combined, substantially, asherein described.

2. I also claim the within described method of coupling, or connecting,the lower set of keys with the back set of valves, so that both sets ofreeds may be played by the lower set of keys, when the several parts areconstructed, arranged, and used, in the manner, and for the purposes,substantially, as

herein described.

I-I. N. GOODMAN. lVitnesses HARVEY BALDWIN, R. FrrZGERALD.

